Healthy Habits at Work

Scoring my (relatively) new job last summer was one of the biggest things that affected my lifestyle. I used to eat junk all the time when I was unemployed because it was very hard for me to have a firm routine to follow. Then I worked part time which still allowed me to spend copious amount of time at home. I could only imagine how bad working from home would be for me. I am the type who needs to be in an office space for my brain juices to keep flowing. I recently learned about WeWork, a company that provides creative office space, community, and services for people who need them, best part is they are in many different parts of the world--that could have been an option for me if I ever decided to work remotely. But as for now, having a typical 8 to 4:30pm job in an office with a great atmosphere has paved my way to eating better and in forming new habits to keep me healthier.

Watch Your Snacks.

When I started my new job, I knew something had to change. I was a little over 15 pounds heavier then and was not fitting in my clothes. I started the change by becoming choosy when it comes to my snacks. I picked healthier options and moderated my munching with the help of snack baggies and my trusty food scale. People might think that's a little anal but trust me, it gives you a different perspective on eating moderately. I also prepared my lunches on Sundays or if it's a sandwich, on the morning of. Sandwiches are my fave for lunch because I am allowed to eat it at my desk so I can do *something else* during lunch break.

Walk Hard.

My #1 thing to do on my lunch breaks is to walk. Almost everyday, I walk more or less a mile around our office's neighborhood. I also use this time to catch up with my mom. We talk everyday. I have a very possessive relationship with her. LOL Just kidding! My mom's one of my best friends and we never run out of things to talk about. We just talk and talk and talk and that makes my mid day walk seem less of an alternative workout.

Hydrate.

I make sure I drink lots of water. I have a 1-liter bottle that I use exclusively in the office. This helps me keep my water intake on track. My daily goal is at least two full bottles of water everyday---that seems a lot but on some days, I even end up drinking four bottles of it. This also gets me more active in a way because I need to get up and go to the bathroom every so often! ;)

Stretch.

When I went to the chiropractor and told him I work in an office, one of the things he asked me was, "How long do you sit in at your desk?" I answered honestly and said as long as I could hold my pee but that's not the point. The point is, when you sit for too long, your muscles think oh he/she's been in this position for so long now, we should stay in this position to support her back in case she decides to stay in this position longer. That's how back muscle pain starts, according to my chiro and that's also how he explained it to me. Now after that, I promised to stop confusing my back muscles and made sure I stretch my back as often as I can.

Look Away.

Being healthy is not limited to your food intake and how active you are. There are so many body parts that we take for granted and one of these is your eyes. Imagine holding your arm in a position where you're flexing it for an hour without relaxing it--that's how your eyes feel when you keep staring at your computer screen. You don't know it or feel it but the muscles controlling the eyes flex when you're staring at your monitor, or phone, or tablet. Now please feel free to look away!

Great tips! I am absolutely the same way. Having a regular routine helps me stay healthy. On days I have off, I do not eat as well or stick to my normal healthy habits. Great idea to walk on your breaks!